The Connection Between Dry Mouth and Poor Oral Health
The saliva in your mouth contains proteins and enzymes and is essential for keeping your mouth lubricated and healthy. Saliva flushes away bacteria, reduces bad breath, prevents infections and aids in digestion. The condition known as “dry mouth” occurs when the amount of saliva in your mouth is reduced.
What Happens When My Mouth Is Dry?
When the moisture in your mouth is reduced, food and bacteria can stick to your teeth, causing a build-up of plaque, which in turn increases the risk of bad bread, cracked lips, cavities, mouth infections, gum disease, a change in taste, a sticky feeling, difficulty swallowing/eating and a host of other oral health problems.
The Emotional and Social Impact of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can cause you to feel self-conscious, anxious or stressed. You may be compelled to carry and sip water throughout the day. While water initially feels good, it doesn’t provide the long lasting lubrication needed to protect your mouth the way saliva does. One in four adults suffer from dry mouth.
Causes for Dry Mouth
Medications, both prescription or non-prescription/over-the-counter, are the number one cause of dry mouth. Conditions such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, anxiety and depression can also associated with dry-mouth. Newly diagnosed? Talk to your AXIS Dental Group oral health care professional about your health concerns and together we will develop strategies to maintain optimal oral health.
Treatment for Dry Mouth
You can protect against frustrating dry mouth symptoms by:
- Avoiding foods that dry the mouth – for instance, crackers or chips
- Dunking hard or crispy foods, like biscuits, into liquids to make them softer
- Increasing the moisture in solid foods by adding broth or soup, sauces or gravies, butter, mayonnaise or yogurt. This will make food easier to swallow
- Steaming vegetables until they are soft
- Alternating food with sips of liquid
If you are fed up with dry mouth (and who wouldn’t be?) talk to your Dentist during your next regular oral health examination/check-up. Your AXIS Dental Health professional welcomes your questions and is ready to help!
